5 Tips For Seniors To Stay Active in the Winter

Winter is a great time to stay active and enjoy the outdoors. However, with cold weather and shorter days, it can be hard to find the motivation to do so. Whether you’re a senior citizen looking for a way to stay warm or just someone who wants some helpful ideas on staying active during this time of year, these 5 tips will help you stay happy and healthy this winter.

1 - Find Your Inner Child

As we grow older, it can be hard to find the time to do the things we loved as a child. So, why not dedicate a few hours a week to reconnecting with your inner child?

The best thing to do is go back and revisit your childhood hobbies. What were you good at as a kid? Were you a wiz at putting together models or figuring out puzzles? Maybe you were unbeatable when it came to strategic board games? Go back and reconnect with one of your favorite pastimes. 

Taking the time to relive those moments from your past will bring you joy and happiness.

2 - Get Crafty

One way to combat the boredom of winter is to get crafty. When we’re stuck inside, it can be easy to sink into a slump and just hibernate all day. However, there are plenty of ways to stay creative and active during the winter months. One way is by getting crafty and making some arts and crafts.

If you need inspiration for what to make, visit your library or try browsing Pinterest or any of your favorite blogs for fun projects that will keep your creative juices flowing. This could be as simple as making a snowman out of paper plates or straws, or as complicated as knitting your own scarf!

Crafting can also help seniors with Alzheimer’s. Studies show that after an hour-long crafting session dementia patients had improved short-term memory and mood. So not only will crafting be beneficial for those who want some leisure time this winter, but it will also have benefits for our senior loved ones that struggle with memory loss. 

3 - Join or Start a Book Club 

What better way to enjoy the winter month than catching up on your reading? Joining or starting a book club this winter is a great way to not only read new books but meet people with similar interests.

If you’ve never been a member of a book club before, you may discover that finding the right one for you can sometimes be a little tricky. Luckily, there are several ways to do so. There are online communities that can help you find people with similar tastes and interests. You could also try joining your local library’s book club or finding an organization that meets regularly in your area. If all else fails, there is always the option of starting your own!

4 - Dabble in Technology

If you're feeling the winter blues, why not try your hand at something new? Technology can be a fun and exciting field to dabble in this winter.

Technology is full of innovative and exciting opportunities. If you're looking for something to do that's different from what you normally do, then technology might be the perfect fit.

Here are some ideas on how to get started:

• Play with your smartphone: There are plenty of apps available for download and anyone can master them with a few minutes of practice.
• Join a social network: Joining and learning a new social platform is a great way to keep up with technology and in the same token expand your social network. It's also a nice way to keep up with what's happening with your children and grandchildren. 
• Learn HTML: HTML is a programming language used by web browsers to display text and images on a webpage. It's easy to learn and has many practical applications in the real world. It's also a fun and creative way to spend your winter days. 
• Start an online business: From 2014-2016, more than half of all businesses in America were either partially or completely online. These numbers have jumped exponentially since the pandemic. An yet, the internet is just getting started. There is still room for more. There's never been a better time to start your own business. Dust off that dream and get started, it could be as simple as listing some of the creations that come out of your favorite hobbies. 

5 - Learn a New Fun Skill

If you're looking for ways to stay active this winter, then learning a new skill is the perfect answer.

There are so many different skills out there that you can learn and once you get started it will be hard to stop. One such skill is cooking. You can make delicious and healthy meals for yourself, your family, and your friends. 

You could also try painting or knitting. Both of these arts are great creative hobbies to keep your mind active during the winter blues. You can enjoy these activities alone or you could invite family or friends and turn the occasion into a social one.

Whatever you choose, make sure it's something you'll enjoy and find rewarding enough to stick with.

Winter has a reputation for being a depressing time of year, but it doesn't have to be. To enjoy the cold weather and stay active, try one or all of these five tips. Whether you're looking to spend time with others or prefer to fly solo, there's something here for everyone.

To find out how United Methodist Homes provides a wealth of offerings and opportunities to support the health and wellbeing of our residents, contact us today or schedule a complimentary visit now. For additional tips on senior health and lifestyle issues, check out our blog.